What happens if I'm late for my tee time?

If you arrive more than 5 minutes late for your tee time, you're disqualified. If you're within 5 minutes late, you get a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play on your first hole. Only exceptional circumstances approved by the Committee waive the penalty entirely.

The general rule: be ready at your exact starting time

Your starting time is treated as an exact moment — 9:00 am means 9:00:00, not 9:01. You must be at the starting point (the teeing area of your first hole) with at least one club and a ball, ready to play. If the group ahead is delayed by weather or a ruling, you're fine as long as you're there and ready when your group can actually start.

The three exceptions that save you

Breaking the starting time normally means disqualification, but Rule 5.3a lists three exceptions. First, if you arrive at the tee ready to play no more than five minutes late, you take the general penalty (two strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play) on your first hole. Second, if you start up to five minutes early, same penalty. Third, if the Committee decides exceptional circumstances prevented you from starting on time, there's no breach and no penalty at all.

What counts as "exceptional circumstances"

Exceptional doesn't just mean bad luck or unexpected delays — it's your responsibility to allow enough travel time and plan for traffic, parking, or registration queues. The Committee decides case by case. Examples that may qualify: you were at an accident scene giving medical aid or a witness statement, or a sudden course evacuation delayed everyone. Car trouble, oversleeping, or getting lost on the way to the tee usually don't count.

Exceptions that change the answer

• Player arrives at starting point, ready to play, no more than 5 minutes late → General penalty (2 strokes in stroke play, loss of hole in match play) applied to first hole
• Player starts no more than 5 minutes early → General penalty applied to first hole
• Committee decides exceptional circumstances prevented starting on time → No breach of rule, no penalty

Frequently asked questions

What if I'm 3 minutes late to my tee time?

You get the general penalty — two strokes added to your first hole score in stroke play, or loss of the first hole in match play — provided you're at the tee with a club and ball ready to play.

What if I'm 10 minutes late?

You're disqualified. The five-minute window is absolute; beyond that the Committee cannot waive the penalty unless they rule your circumstances were exceptional under Exception 3.

What counts as "exceptional circumstances"?

It's not ordinary delays like traffic or car trouble. The Committee decides case by case, but examples include being detained at an accident scene giving medical aid or a witness statement, or a sudden course-wide evacuation. You must still have allowed reasonable travel time.

Does it matter if I'm at the clubhouse but not at the tee?

Yes. "Starting point" means the teeing area of your first hole (could be the 1st, 10th, or any hole in a shotgun start). Being in the car park, locker room, or practice green doesn't count — you must be at the tee, ready to play.

What if both me and my opponent are late in match play?

If you both arrive within five minutes late, you each get a loss-of-hole penalty on the first hole, so the hole is halved. The player who arrived first doesn't win the hole — both penalties apply simultaneously.